I've been reading that this game has actually been selling out in Japan ever since it's release. While the the models for the characters are...interesting, I saw who the publisher was and then realized that it was to be expected.All I can say is that Capcom's probably kicking themselves at the fact that they refused to publish this game. XD

Hmmm... not sure I agree with using "Questionable taste" as a con. While I can see why the reviewer may not have appreciated the visual design of the game, and I find it rather offputting as well, that's just far too subjective a thing to be labelled as a ciriticism in a professional review. We're not talking about the game allowing you to kill children here, we're just talking about women (and men) drawn in extermely exaggerated fashion.

Either way, the actual gameplay looks and sounds pretty good. It doesn't sound like a day one purcahse to me but maybe somewhere down the line after a price drop or three.

Well, I certainly love a mindless brawler from time to time, if I had a PS3/Vita, I'd definitely pick this up. As for the art style (they're not "models", because they're not 3D models... -_-'), I definitely dig it, not that I'm a fan of massive cleavages or overly muscular fems, but I certainly like the over the top design overall, also, like any Vanillaware game, it simply looks freaking gorgeous.

Odin Sphere, at least the NTSC-U released, had some damn near CRIPPLING lag during some of the fights.

Curious about that myself. Hardest bit in the whole game for me was the back to back odette, queen of the dead boss fights... so much lag.. but even still game was bloody beautiful and loads of fun when you weren't choking out your ps2 processor to pump out all that pretty.

Well, the girls are intentionally modeled after the work of Frank Frazetta, where everyone is naked or nearly naked for no real reason. Conan the Barbarian and Fire and Ice are two major influences going into this game. I know some people will obviously be put off by the RIDICULOUS floating magic breasts of the sorceress or gratuitous butt of the Amazon or any of the other crazy monster girls, but the game is packed with homages to Disney, D&D Tower of Doom, Frank Frazetta, classical Renaissance artists, and Ray Harryhausen. There's a definite pulp fantasy feel about the game and while I won't argue that some people will find the game in "questionable taste", or they might call it "generic", but there's also a wealth of art history that this game is intentionally trying to invoke.

Odin Sphere, at least the NTSC-U released, had some damn near CRIPPLING lag during some of the fights.

Curious about that myself. Hardest bit in the whole game for me was the back to back odette, queen of the dead boss fights... so much lag.. but even still game was bloody beautiful and loads of fun when you weren't choking out your ps2 processor to pump out all that pretty.

I'm not sure if the NTSC-U version would be different from the NA release, but that lag was normal in any fight with far too many enemies, and thus effects, going off at once.

Having played their other games, I've noticed less and less lag though. Muramasa on the Wii ran pretty well, and the vita version I'd say runs silky smooth. So with the upping of the power on the PS3/Vita, I'd think it's a safe bet that unless some giant extreme occurs it would run fine.

rbstewart7263:I think we can add this to the list of "overblown controversies" right alongside the tomb raider "OMG He caressed her leg WITHOUT PERMISSION!!" scandal and the ken levine box art fracaus.

That bitter nonsense aside I cant wait to play this Ive always loved vanillaware games.

Actually, XSEED is now refusing to localize Senran Kagura due to fear of being attacked by Kotaku or the rest of the gaming media.

erttheking:It seems like it's a rather "meh" game overall. I'm not hating on it, but frankly the character models look stupid.

Yeah. They really do look quite poor.

For me, it comes down to the perspective - seeing it in-game, it's just all over the place. Are the characters leaning into the background? Are they leaning into the foreground? Are their heads really small, or just further away for some reason? Why are the feet and heads so tiny simultaneously; are the characters being bent towards (or away from?) our viewpoint, like bows?

The answer to all those questions seems to be "Yes", often all on the same screen. My eye just can't follow the look without picking apart its inconsistencies.

Devilot:I find it really funny, that only 2 reviews so far have given the game average scores. And both reviews state that part of the reason is how the game depicted women...

I dont really care, since the game is selling like hotcakes and VW is an incredibly talented developer, but I always thought of the escapist as an objective and serious game site...

I don't really think that you can be objective when it comes to video games.

It's impossible. Being objective would require everyone to think the same, like the same, and hate the same.

But considering how many laws that breaks, we have to deal with chaotic randomness in peoples tastes! Some like men dressed up as 10ft tall furry giraffe women in lingerie, others like Sonic. Like... really like him. In a hotdog bun. Being eaten.

Its why magazines and websites often have at least a couple people doing reviews. Its why Famitsu has an aggregate score taken from the scores given by its group of reviewers. It's why, at least I'd expect them to, they'd have people familiar with those games doing the reviews of them, to avoid any unintended bias against its mechanics. I wouldn't have one of the stereotypical 12 year old Call of Duty players going to review say... System Shock 2, or a Need For Speed junkie reviewing Disgaea (or any Nippon Ichi game for that matter).

I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon that the game's characters should not of detracted on the score of the game. It's like giving grand theft auto a bad score because it has prostitutes and drugs, I don't see the difference there.

Devilot:I find it really funny, that only 2 reviews so far have given the game average scores. And both reviews state that part of the reason is how the game depicted women...

I dont really care, since the game is selling like hotcakes and VW is an incredibly talented developer, but I always thought of the escapist as an objective and serious game site...

I don't really think that you can be objective when it comes to video games.

You can be more objective than you think, case in point you may not like the art style in dragon's crown, but you cant deny its good art. Same can be said for the gameplay that the reviewer says its "repetitive" well...its a sidescroller beat-em up...certain genres have certain expectations lined up, otherwise all fps would get a "its too repetitive, all you do is shoot your gun"...

My main gripe here is that I Feel the review is heavily biased towards the art design and the reviewer's dislike of it. I'm not angry or anything, just dissapointed because I always thought the escapist was beyond petty controversies...

Devilot:I find it really funny, that only 2 reviews so far have given the game average scores. And both reviews state that part of the reason is how the game depicted women...

I dont really care, since the game is selling like hotcakes and VW is an incredibly talented developer, but I always thought of the escapist as an objective and serious game site...

I don't really think that you can be objective when it comes to video games.

You can be more objective than you think, case in point you may not like the art style in dragon's crown, but you cant deny its good art. Same can be said for the gameplay that the reviewer says its "repetitive" well...its a sidescroller beat-em up...certain genres have certain expectations lined up, otherwise all fps would get a "its too repetitive, all you do is shoot your gun"...

My main gripe here is that I Feel the review is heavily biased towards the art design and the reviewer's dislike of it. I'm not angry or anything, just dissapointed because I always thought the escapist was beyond petty controversies...

Actually, yes I can deny that it's good art. It's your opinion that it's good art, I personally think that the art doesn't look good at all, the proportions are all over the place and I'm not just talking about the breasts, the size of the head of that guy in giant armor is way too small.

Zeckt:I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon that the game's characters should not of detracted on the score of the game. It's like giving grand theft auto a bad score because it has prostitutes and drugs, I don't see the difference there.

The score reflects how much the reviewer liked the game. If the characters made the game less enjoyable for him, then the score would naturally suffer. The same goes with drugs and prostitutes in GTA, if in made the game less enjoyable it would warrant a lower score. But is that really an apt comparison? The characters are constantly on the screen in this game, while the amounts of prostitutes and drugs in GTA are minimal. It's more about guns and car on car carnage.

I am amped to play this game. I'm looking very forward to this game. Too bad I'm stuck waiting till the 6th to pick it up. I can't wait to see how it stacks up to Muramasa, that game was epic, and this is looking awesome as well. Keep 'em coming Vanillaware... I also would love an HD version of Odinsphere!

Why does no one ever complain about the unrealistic portrayal of men with biceps the size of a small person? Why is exaggerating the female form more offensive than exaggerating the male form? Hell, the Dwarf is only clothed in his beard and loincloth.

I understand people may find it 'in bad taste' or whatever, but there's a huge double standard going on here.

Denamic:Why does no one ever complain about the unrealistic portrayal of men with biceps the size of a small person? Why is exaggerating the female form more offensive than exaggerating the male form? Hell, the Dwarf is only clothed in his beard and loincloth.

I understand people may find it 'in bad taste' or whatever, but there's a huge double standard going on here.

Because muscular men are a power fantasy. Most game developers don't make muscled good looking men for the female gamers to look at. They want "strong" looking characters that can take on the world and all the bosses. Giant boobs don't convey power, they are there for eye candy and to deny it is just wrong.

Now do I mind personally? No, I love boobs so I'd like to look at boobs. But the double standard argument is wrong because the developers are not making the male characters extremely muscled and good looking for female gamers.

Denamic:Why does no one ever complain about the unrealistic portrayal of men with biceps the size of a small person? Why is exaggerating the female form more offensive than exaggerating the male form? Hell, the Dwarf is only clothed in his beard and loincloth.

I understand people may find it 'in bad taste' or whatever, but there's a huge double standard going on here.

Because muscular men are a power fantasy. Most game developers don't make muscled good looking men for the female gamers to look at. They want "strong" looking characters that can take on the world and all the bosses. Giant boobs don't convey power, they are there for eye candy and to deny it is just wrong.

Now do I mind personally? No, I love boobs so I'd like to look at boobs. But the double standard argument is wrong because the developers are not making the male characters extremely muscled and good looking for female gamers.

Actually, it's not a power fantasy to me. Nor the legions of people I spend most of my days with as a trainer. Or as someone who likes going to the gym. People want to get those muscles because they think it looks good. Or even sometimes, because they think it will help them in whatever sport or area of life they think they need strength for.

And I don't get that giant boobs isn't a power fantasy for women. I know probably... 13 women who went under the knife. Is it not a power fantasy for them? Some went to make themselves happy with their body, some wanted to get more sexual attention, whatever the reason there are just as many women who want big breasts as there are men who want big muscles. Why is one a power fantasy, and why is one excused because men say big breasts are good?

A lot of women like my body, so I would think someone who doesn't have my body would think big muscles are good. Is it a power fantasy then, or is he just responding what he feels women key into?

I'm not really trying to put this on you, but I'm so confused with the 'power fantasy' idea. I might make a thread over it.

Denamic:Why does no one ever complain about the unrealistic portrayal of men with biceps the size of a small person? Why is exaggerating the female form more offensive than exaggerating the male form? Hell, the Dwarf is only clothed in his beard and loincloth.

I understand people may find it 'in bad taste' or whatever, but there's a huge double standard going on here.

Because muscular men are a power fantasy. Most game developers don't make muscled good looking men for the female gamers to look at. They want "strong" looking characters that can take on the world and all the bosses. Giant boobs don't convey power, they are there for eye candy and to deny it is just wrong.

Now do I mind personally? No, I love boobs so I'd like to look at boobs. But the double standard argument is wrong because the developers are not making the male characters extremely muscled and good looking for female gamers.

Actually, it's not a power fantasy to me. Nor the legions of people I spend most of my days with as a trainer. Or as someone who likes going to the gym. People want to get those muscles because they think it looks good. Or even sometimes, because they think it will help them in whatever sport or area of life they think they need strength for.

And I don't get that giant boobs isn't a power fantasy for women. I know probably... 13 women who went under the knife. Is it not a power fantasy for them? Some went to make themselves happy with their body, some wanted to get more sexual attention, whatever the reason there are just as many women who want big breasts as there are men who want big muscles. Why is one a power fantasy, and why is one excused because men say big breasts a good?

A lot of women like my body, so I would think someone who doesn't have my body would think big muscles are good. Is it a power fantasy then, or is he just responding what he feels women key into.

I'm not really trying to put this on you, but I'm so confused with the 'power fantasy' idea. I might make a thread over it.

Yeah they might have, but let me ask you a question. Did they go under the knife so that they would feel more powerful, or so that men would think that they were more attractive? I don't know them personally, I can't say for sure, but I'm going to lean towards the latter.

And actually I've talked to a lot of women on this website, and they say that they like a little muscle on men, but they find big bulging body builder types to be rather unpleasant to look at. They find the idea that all women like big muscular men to be an annoying stereotype. Some do, but not all of them. Come to think of it, I never really liked how the sorceress looked in this game because her anatomy is just, well, impossible. Seriously, how can she stand up straight?

My train of thought is that while there are women who want bigger breasts out there, breasts themselves don't empower you in any way physically. Muscles though make you stronger, more resilient. You look tough and like you've put a lot of work into building those muscles. With said muscles, in a fantasy setting, you can fight anyone and anything.

Some women find really muscular men attractive, no denying that but I'd bet money that when the developers were designing characters they were not thinking of them. I see where you're coming from but I just don't see muscular male characters designed with female's fetishes in mind.

Denamic:Why does no one ever complain about the unrealistic portrayal of men with biceps the size of a small person? Why is exaggerating the female form more offensive than exaggerating the male form? Hell, the Dwarf is only clothed in his beard and loincloth.

I understand people may find it 'in bad taste' or whatever, but there's a huge double standard going on here.

Because muscular men are a power fantasy. Most game developers don't make muscled good looking men for the female gamers to look at. They want "strong" looking characters that can take on the world and all the bosses. Giant boobs don't convey power, they are there for eye candy and to deny it is just wrong.

Now do I mind personally? No, I love boobs so I'd like to look at boobs. But the double standard argument is wrong because the developers are not making the male characters extremely muscled and good looking for female gamers.

Sure, every man dreams of a beard as magnificent as that of a Dwarf, but this argument doesn't really carry any weight as it can be twisted any way you like. Essentially naked woman? Male sex fantasy. Essentially naked muscular woman? Male sex fantasy. Essentially naked woman with small breasts? Still male sex fantasy. As long as the woman's showing skin, it's almost always a 'male sex fantasy'. Hell, as long as there's tits and she's pretty, it's a male sex fantasy. And sure, that may well be the case. I don't really care either way, as none of that has any bearing of how I view actual women. My point is no one bats an eye no matter how the males are portrayed. Slim, muscular, weak, strong, clothed, naked, wherever. Even the most obvious half-naked bishounen fanservice is utterly ignored.

Again, I don't actually care about how either sex is portrayed. What annoys me is the double standards involved with the complaining about these kinds of things.